The Canadian fans were in for a treat during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series' NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with two local stars exchanging the top spot on the grid.

Jacques Villeneuve bumped Alex Tagliani off the pole position on his third flying lap. The pair of Roger Penske-owned Dodges were the only two to complete a lap under 72 seconds around the 2.71-mile circuit.

Villeneuve, whose career at his home track has been star-crossed with accidents and retirements, balancing out a best finish of second in the 1996 Canadian Grand Prix and prior finishes of third and fourth in the last two Nationwide events, has his first pole position in NASCAR.

"If there's one place you want to be quick, it's at home," said Villeneuve. "This is a special track as it bears my father's name. I've raced here 14 or 15 times, so there's a lot of history. It's good when you can get to a track and from the moment you get going, the car is great."

He added: "I did make my lap on the third lap, which isn't the way to go. That shows that our race pace should be good because our tires are holding up. That gives us a lot of confidence for tomorrow."

For Tagliani, outside pole is his best start yet in NASCAR; he took a pole in the 2003 Champ Car event on the Ile Notre Dame.

Showing prowess and best of the regular Nationwide contingent was Jason Leffler for Turner Motorsports, taking his Great Clips-sponsored Chevrolet to third on the grid.

Penske (Kurt Busch) and Turner (Reed Sorenson) have taken the two prior road course wins this season at Watkins Glen and Road America.

Scott Speed (Kevin Harvick Inc.) and Michael McDowell (Joe Gibbs Racing) completed the top-five on the grid.

Others of note: Patrick Carpentier, in his final scheduled start before retirement, lines up eighth in a Michael Waltrip-entered Toyota, fellow Canadians Andrew Ranger and Ron Fellows slot in 11th and 13th (Ranger held provisional pole for most of the session), Danica Patrick makes her first Nationwide road course start from 25th, and Maryeve Dufault makes her first ever Nationwide start in the rear of the field after spinning during qualifying.

• The NASCAR Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 200 airs Saturday, live on ESPN at 2 p.m. ET.

Pos Driver Car/Engine Time Delay
1 Jacques Villeneuve Dodge 1'41.800 -
2 Alex Tagliani Dodge 1'41.935 0.135
3 Jason Leffler Chevrolet 1'42.165 0.365
4 Scott Speed Chevrolet 1'42.284 0.484
5 Michael McDowell Toyota 1'42.363 0.563
6 Robby Gordon Dodge 1'42.365 0.565
7 Steve Wallace Toyota 1'42.490 0.690
8 Patrick Carpentier Toyota 1'42.496 0.696
9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 1'42.563 0.763
10 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet 1'42.580 0.780
11 Andrew Ranger Dodge 1'42.638 0.838
12 Boris Said Chevrolet 1'42.669 0.869
13 Ron Fellows Chevrolet 1'42.967 1.167
14 Billy Johnson Ford 1'43.076 1.276
15 Jason Bowles Toyota 1'43.141 1.341
16 Elliott Sadler Chevrolet 1'43.638 1.838
17 Michel Jourdain Jr. Ford 1'43.663 1.863
18 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 1'43.664 1.864
19 Brian Scott Toyota 1'43.777 1.977
20 Aric Almirola Chevrolet 1'44.073 2.273
21 J.R. Fitzpatrick Ford 1'44.078 2.278
22 Kyle Kelley Chevrolet 1'44.111 2.311
23 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet 1'44.120 2.320
24 Kenny Wallace Toyota 1'44.144 2.344
25 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 1'44.258 2.458
26 Alex Kennedy Chevrolet 1'44.295 2.495
27 Mike Wallace Chevrolet 1'44.367 2.567
28 Michael Annett Toyota 1'44.729 2.929
29 Mike Bliss Chevrolet 1'44.808 3.008
30 Jeff Green Chevrolet 1'45.145 3.345
31 Chris Cook Ford 1'45.149 3.349
32 Timmy Hill Ford 1'45.921 4.121
33 Eric McClure Chevrolet 1'46.125 4.325
34 Luis Martinez Jr. Ford 1'46.304 4.504
35 Josh Wise Chevrolet 1'46.347 4.547
36 Kevin Conway Toyota 1'46.410 4.610
37 Jeremy Clements Chevrolet 1'46.718 4.918
38 Blake Koch Dodge 1'46.736 4.936
39 Maryeve Dufault Dodge 1'47.990 6.190
40 Derrike Cope Dodge 1'49.430 7.630
41 Louis-Philippe Dumoulin Chevrolet
24:58'18.200
42 Morgan Shepherd Chevrolet
24:58'18.200
43 D.J. Kennington Dodge 1'45.175 3.375